My school is changing it's mascot.. ....advice?

[diddlysquat]

For years my school has been asked my the Native Americans of the area to change it's mascot. We are now in the process of doing so. The mascot was "Cherokees" and we were known as the Sequoia Cherokees. Apparently we are ok with the name Sequoia and are not changing that but we must come up with something to replace "Cherokees" This is a school that is about to change from a jr. high to a middle school. We are located in WA state. I would like to gather as many suggestions as possible. The kids are having trouble coming up with something that makes a statement.

[dsc]

1. how about pumas or wild cats?

assuming either of those are common in that state. Spotted owls are cool.

[DAGDA56]

2. Why not the Chieftains?

This fits in with Sequoia's status, you can keep the "C" on your uniforms and the worst that can happen is that you get confused with a bunch of Irish musicians...seriously, I think Chieftains works fine. You're lucky you are given the chance to choose.

[wickerwoman]

8. I went to school in the next district over- our mascot was "Chiefs"

and we had to change it the year after I graduated (I can't remember what to.) Think about the visual for "Chieftains"- I can't think of a way to do it that doesn't involve Native Americans. What kind of costume would the mascot wear?

[jmowreader]

13. A Latin American Freedom Fighter or a Drug Lord come to mind

And everyone's still gonna think it's a Native American-related name.

Large violent birds are always good. Whatever the major industry in town is, that's good sometimes--St. Maries is a logging town so the high school teams are the Lumberjacks; Orofino was the home of the state mental hospital so, naturally, their teams are the Maniacs. (I would bet that shit's gonna change quick.) And Wallace is, or at least was, a big mining town, so their teams are the Miners. (Although with Wallace's history they could just as well be the Hookers--Wallace was famous for over a century for the quality of its brothels.)

[pagerbear]

3. Self delete

[Philosophy]

4. Cherokees in WA?

Maybe they want you to change because the mascot doesn't make any sense.

[diddlysquat]

6. No it never made any sense.....

but that's another issue.

[wickerwoman]

5. One of my friends went to school in Sequioa.

It was a few years back though and I can't remember the name.

Since the school name is a tree, you should probably stick to tree dwellers. Owls are good.

Bird names from the WA area: White-headed Woodpecker (maybe not for a high school), Sage Thrashers (very cool), Prarie Falcons (maybe sounds a bit too provincial.)

I like Sequioa Sage Thrashers- and the same number of syllables as Cherokees so the fight song will still scan.

[diddlysquat]

7. Actually, the Sequoia referred to in the name...

is actually the famous Cherokee Sequoya who invented the alphabet for the Cherokee language. We even spelled his name wrong but again, that's another issue.

[salvorhardin]

9. One word...

Wombats!
http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/W/WOMBAT.html

[many a good man]

10. How about the Phoenix?

That was the name of Sequoya's newspaper, the first native language newspaper in America. Its a cool symbol and it honors the man who is the school's namesake.

[Gildor Inglorion]

11. hmm...a team of Phoenixes?

lovely imagery! I think you've got it.

[Unperson 309]

19. Erm..... Wouldn't the Plural

of Phoenix be....

Phoenices?

heeheehee...

OTOH, the term 'Phoenix' if from the Greek, which is a corruption of the Egyptian term "Boinu" or "Bennu" and means the bird of immortality.

The Bennu bird was also known as the Ben. The capstone of the pyramid or the obelisk was known as the "Ben-Ben" stone and was the birthplace of the Bennu bird. This is the origin of the phoenix arising from a pyre of ashes. Even the terms 'pyre' and 'pyramid' are related.

If the school uses the Phoenix mascot theme, they could use either Greek or egyptian imagery and it would all work out splendidly.

309

[diddlysquat]

12. Thanks!

I think this could be it. I just suggested it to my principal. I hope it takes.

[Catshrink]

15. That is a great idea!

Not offensive and as you said, honors the man. WTG TandP!

[Burma Jones]

14. How About the Sequoia

Enormous Wood

[St. Jarvitude]

16. Sequoia Hypnotoads

You could all bring out a couple of these hypnodisks to your basketball games.

[trogdor]

17. How about the "mice"

Goooooooooooooo mice! Horray for the pink and white! /carlin

[Arugula Latte]

18. My favorite: Banana Slugs

That's UC Santa Cruz's mascot. Rally cry: "Slime 'Em!" Plus, you are in Washington, home of luxurant coastal forests brimming with giant yellow slugs, right?

[Paragon]

20. Apples

As in Washington Apples...?

Hey, it worked for Gwyneth Paltrow. :silly:

[Renew Deal]

21. Fiery fascists

How about the raging ritalin kids